Refrigerator door including latch supporting means



March 3, 1964 5, WOOLLEY 3,122,796

REFRIGERATOR DOOR INCLUDING LATCH SUPPORTING MEANS Filed NOV. 15, 1962INVENTOR. SAMUEL J. wooLLEY H as ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,122 796REFRIGEEATGR DOGil INCLUDING LATCH SUPPGRTEIG NEEANS Samuel 5. Woolley,Louisville, Ky, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,166 3 Claims. (ill. 29-35)The present invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and is moreparticularly concerned with an improved means for supporting amechanical latch on an insulated refrigerator door.

The doors for household refrigerators normally comprise spaced inner andouter door panels, a layer of heat insulation between the panels and alatch along the free or latch side of the door for cooperation with astrike mounted on the cabinet face for holding the door closed. Theouter door panel is usually made of sheet metal While the inner panel iscomposed of a heat insulating material such as a sheet plastic material.The latch is normally attached to the metal outer panel. In recent yearsimproved insulating materials and the availability of thinner sheetmetal for the outer door panels has resulted in doors which are ofrelatively light construction. Even though the modern mechanical latcheshave much smaller latching forces than the older refrigerator doorlatches, the mounting of one of these latches on the present type ofdoor has presented a number of problems. When the latch is attached onlyto a limited area on the outer panel, the latch load is limited to orconcentrated on that area. As a result the latch is usually attached tothe reinforced or flanged periphery of the door or reinforcing means hasbeen included for strengthening the door outer panel in the latch area.

The present invention has as one object the provision of a low costmeans for supporting a door latch on a refrigerator door which meansprovides considerable freedom with regards to the positioning of thelatch on the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch mounting means fora refrigerator door which is designed to distribute the latching forcesover a wide area of the door structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latchmounting means for refrigerator doors whereby the latch can be mountedwithin the space between the inner and outer door panels without theneed for special means for separating the latch mechanism from the doorinsulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide supporting means forsupporting a latch on a refrigerator door and spaced from the edgethereof, which means does not require any special reinforcement of thedoor in the latch area.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a refrigerator door in cluding spaced inner and outerpanels fastened together along the edges thereof and a layer ofcompressible insulation in contact vith the outer door panel. A latchhaving most of its operating mechanism positioned in the space betweenthe inner and outer panels is secured to the door by a support meansincluding a base portion overlying the layer of insulation between thepanels. The latch is mounted on this base portion intermediate the endsthereof and the support means is secured only at one end thereof to theouter door panel adjacent the free edge of the door. In order todistribute the latching 3,122,795 Patented Mar. 3, 196 s ice loads overa substantial area of the door, a portion of the support means removedfrom the secured end thereof is arranged to be supported by but notsecured to an area or areas of one or both panels. The support meansincludes at least one portion spaced from the end of the support meansfastened to the outer panel which extends into the layer of insulationinto supporting relationship with the inner surface of the outer panel.Preferably also the support means includes another portion engaging theinner panel. By this construction, the latch forces existing duringclosing of the door are transmitted to the outer panel through the oneend of the support fastened thereto and through the unsecured portion ofthe support means supported by that panel. The latch forces arisingduring opening of the door are transferred to the outer door panelthrough the fixed connection of the support means to the outer panel andto the inner panel through the portion thereof contacting the innerpanel.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FEGURE 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of a refrigeratorcabinet embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2, the insulationshown in FIGURE 1 being omitted from the views in FIGURES 2 and 3.

With reference to FEGURE 1 there is shown a portion of a householdrefrigerator including a cabinet 1 defining a storage compartment 2having an access opening at the front thereof closed by an insulateddoor 3, one edge of which is shown. It is to be understood that the dooris hinged to the face of the cabinet along the opposite edge (not shown)for the usual opening and closing movement.

The door 3 comprises an outer door panel 9 formed of sheet metal and aninner panel 19 which is spaced from the outer panel 9 with most of thisspace being filled by a suitable heat insulating material such as alayer of glass fiber insulation 11. In accordance with the usualpractice the outer panel has its peripheral edges reverse bent orWrapped around to form a strengthening channel including a rearwardlyextending portion 12. and an inwardly extending flange 14-. Theperipheral edge of the inner panel 16 along with a sealing gasket 15 issecured to the flange 14.

For hol ing the door in a closed position, there is provided a latchgenerally indicated by the numeral 4 which is mounted on the door andwhich cooperates with a strike 5 mounted in the recess 6 in the cabinetface. The latch 4, the detailed construction of which does not form anypart of the present invention, is of the usual overcenter type whichautomatically latches or unlatches when the door is opened and closed.Briefly it comprises a latch arm 7 and an over-center mechanism 8adapted to hold the latch arm 7 in either of its two operativepositions.

Most of the latch 4 is mounted within the space between the irmer andouter panels 9 and it? with only a portion of the latch arm "7 extendingthrough an opening 16 in the inner panel for operative engagement withthe strike 5 when the door is in a closed position.

In accordance with the present invention, the latch 4 is supported inthis position by a bracket or support means generally indicated by thenumeral 17. This support means includes a generally rectangular base 18and the latch 4 is secured to the base portion 18 intermediate the endsthereof by means of a plurality of rivets 19. One end 2% of the baseportion 18 is secured to the inner surface of the flange 14 by means ofscrews 21 extending through the flange threadably engaging the baseportion 18 in such a position that the latch 4 is operatively positionedrela- 3 tive to the strike 5. In assembly of the door, the latch andlatch supporting means 17 are fastened to the outer door panel 9 afterthe layer of insulating material 11 is placed in the outer door panelbut prior to the attachment of the inner door panel it to the outer doorpanel 9. The base 1 of the support means l7 then overlies, the layer ofinsulation ii and is generally separated from the outer panel 9 by thatinsulation;

For the purpose of distributing the latching forces to areas of theinner and outer panels 9 and lit spaced from the flange 14, the bracket17 includes one or more pertions engaging, but not directly attachedthereto, the outer and inner panels 9 and it). In the preferredembodiment of the invention as illustrated, the free end portion 23 ofthe support means 1'7 is formed so that when the inner panel id issecured to the outer panel 9, this end portion 23 will provide asubstantial area in contact with the inner surface of the inner panel1d. The purpose of this bearing surface is to transmit some of thelatching forces to the inner panel during opening of the door and theunlatching of the latch 4 from the strike 5. Thus when the door isopened and the latch moved to its open position, the opening forces aretransmitted both to the outer panel flan es 14 and to the area of theinner panel 18 contacted by the end portion 23 of the support means l7.For additional load distribution or as an alternate area of contact, thebase portion 13 of the support means may be formed between the latch 4-and the secured end 2%) so as to provide a bearing area 25 adapted toengage a portion of the inner door adjacent the edge thereof.

For the purpose of distributing some of the closing latching forces,which are sometimes larger than the opening forces, through an area ofthe outer panel 9 spaced from the flange 14, the support means 17 isprovided with one or more legs 28 which are in supporting relationshipwith the area of the outer panel spaced from the flange 14. In theillustrated support means, two such legs are employed and they morespecifically are preferably arranged directly beneath a portion of thelatch mechanism ,4 or'between the point at which the latch mechanism tis secured to the support means 17 and the free end 23 of the supportmeans. These legs 28 are relatively narrow and spaced apart so thatduring positioning of the support means 17 relative to the outer panel9, the legs 28 will penetrate the insulation and at least partiallycompress some of the insulating material 11 to form a compressed layerof insulating material indicated by the numeral 29 between the bottomedges of the legs 28 and the inner surface of the panel 9. This layer ofcompressed insulating material helps to absorb some of the latchingforces and also acts as a sound dampening means between the latchsupport 17 and the metal outer panel 9.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been provideda latch support means which permits the mounting of the latch asubstantial distance from the edge of the door. For heat insulatingpurposes the supporting means 17 is preferably composed of a plasticmaterial such as polystyrene since it is desirable to avoid any metallicheat path between the outer panel 9 and the inner panel ill. The supportmeans may be of any desired size but preferably the base portion 18 isof sufficient size to prevent the insulating material 11 from cominginto contact with the latch operating mechanism. The base portion 18 ofthe support means 17 may also be of any desired length in order toproportion the latching forces between the end of the support which issecured to the flange 14 and those portions of the support Which are incontact either with the outer panel 9 or the inner panel 18. The latchsupport means is of simple design and is adapted of use in connectionwith a number of existing doors since it can be readily mounted on theusual peripheral flange of the door and suitably shaped to provide thedesired point or points of support with the outer and inner door panels?Except for'the means for attaching the support to the flange 14, noother fastening deans are required for supporting the latch relative tothe door.

While there has been shown and described what is presently considered tobe a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention and it is, therefore,intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent of the UnitedStates is: i

1. In combination, a door including spaced inner and outer panelsfastened together along the edges thereof, a layer of glass fiberinsulation in contact with said outer panel, a latch, a support means ofplastic material for upportin said latch within said space between saidpanels, said support means including a base portion overlying said layerof insulation, said latch being mounted on said'base portion, meanssecuring one end of said support means to said outer panel adjacent anedge thereof, said support means including a first portion adjacent theother end of said support means contacting said inner panel and at leastone leg spaced from said one end and extending into said layer ofinsulation into supporting relationship with said outer panel.

2. In combination, a door including spaced inner and outer panelsfastened together along the edges thereof, a layer of compressibleinsulation between said panels and in contact with said outer panel, alatch, a support means of plastic material for supporting said latchwithin said space between said panels, said support means including abase portion overlying said layer of insulation, said latch beingmounted on said base portion intermediate the ends thereof, meanssecuring one end of said support means to said outer panel adjacent anedge thereofjssaid support means including a portion adjacent the othereff thereof en aging said inner panel, said support means also includinga pair of legs spaced from said one end and from one another andextending through said layer of insulation into supporting relationshipwith said outer panel, a portion of said insulation being compressedbetween said legs and said outer panel.

3. In combination, a door including spaced inner and outer panelsfastened together along the edges thereof, a layer of compressibleinsulation between said panels and in contact with said outer panel, alatch, a support means of plastic material for supporting said latchwithin said space between said insulation and said inner panel, saidsupport means including a base portion overlying said layer ofinsulation, said latch being mounted on said base portion on theopposite side from said insulation and intermediate the ends of saidbase portion, means securing one end of said support means to said outerpanel adjacent an edge thereof, said support means including a firstportion between said one end and said latch engaging said inner paneland a second portion adjacent the other end of said support meanscontacting said inner panel, said support means also including at leastone leg spaced from said one end and extending into and compressing saidlayer of insulation into supporting relationship with said outer panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN COMBINATION, A DOOR INCLUDING SPACED INNER AND OUTER PANELSFASTENED TOGETHER ALONG THE EDGES THEREOF, A LAYER OF GLASS FIBERINSULATION IN CONTACT WITH SAID OUTER PANEL, A LATCH, A SUPPORT MEANS OFPLASTIC MATERIAL FOR SUPPORTING SAID LATCH WITHIN AND SPACE BETWEEN SAIDPANELS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A BASE PORTION OVERLYING SAID LAYEROF INSULATION, SAID LATCH BEING MOUNTED ON SAID BASE PORTION, MEANSSECURING ONE END OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO SAID OUTER PANEL ADJACENT ANEDGE THEREOF, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PORTION ADJACENT THEOTHER END OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS CONTACTING SAID INNER PANEL AND AT LEASTONE LEG SPACED FROM SAID ONE END AND EXTENDING INTO SAID LAYER OFINSULATION INTO SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID OUTER PANEL.